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Mr. ROWLAND'S 
THANKSGIVING DISCOURSE. 

November 27th, 1800. 



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DISCOURSE, 

DELIVERED 
NOVEMBER 27th, 1800 ; 

A DAY OBSERVED AS AN 
ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING. 



By HENRY A. ROWLAND, 



PAST0R OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN WINDSOR. 



PUBLISHED BY DESIRE OF THE HEARERS. 




HARTFORD: 
PRINTED BY HUDSON AND GOODWINJ 

l8oi. 



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*yt &haiihdaiv'ina <uei K mon. 



PSALM Cxlv. IO. 

All thy works praife thee, Lord, and thy Saints 
jhall blefs thee. 



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E are affembled, my brethren, at this 
time, to pay our devout adorations to the great au- 
thor of our beings ; and to offer thankfgiving and 
praife to his holy name. This is a duty both pleaf- 
ant and profitable. It is pleafant to a grateful heart, 
becaufe it is the expreflion of that which it feels, 
and wifhes to utter ; and profitable becaufe it culti- 
vates a fpirit of devotion and accuftoms it to thofe 
exercifes which are to be its eternal employment. 
A grateful heart will never want motives to call it in- 
to exercife. It will fee the goodnefs of God, even 



-i 



THANKSGIVING SERMON. 



In times of the deepeft diftrefs and feel its obligations 

to give thanks to God, always , for all things. 

If thofe whofe hearts are thus difpofed will rejoice 
in the Lord and joy in the God of their falvation, 
when the fruits of the vine and fields — the labor of 
the olive and the herd of thejlalls all fail, and their 
worldly profpe&s are the moft gloomy ; how muft 
grateful emotions arife and fwell your bofoms, when 
the bounties of divine providence are continually of- 
fering frefh motives to this duty. The devout ex- 
ercife of praife, in earthly communities, will bring 
them to a near refemblance to the bleffed fociety 
above, where all hearts are filled with gratitude and 
all the work is praife. Suitably to appreciate the 
goodnefs of God, to have the heart filled with grat* 
itude, and to exprefs it in all fuitable ways, will 
bring men to bear the greateft likenefs to his moral 
image, and therefore to enjoy the greateft happinefs. 
It is a work begun, which will be perfected in glory* 

But if w r e draw afide the veil which is fpread over 
fome, who appear in the forms of devotion, and 
look at the inward temper and difpofition of the foul, 
what inconfiftency is there exhibited ! The emotions 
of the heart are altogether oppofed to the outward 
fliow of piety. 

Those, who wifh to unite their devotions with 
the celeflial orders, muft have a heavenly temper 
formed within ; muft fix their fupreme affe&ions on 
God, and confecrate themfelves forever to his fer- 



THANKSGIVING SERMON. 



vice. If we hope one day to be admitted to the 
heavenly courts, to join the company of pure fpir- 
its, to be happy in the fociety of angels, we muft be 
formed to a temper of gratitude to the fupreme Je- 
hovah for the wonders of his love. It is the com- 
mon felicity of glorified fpirits in heaven and thofe 
who love to contemplate the divine goodnefs here 
on earth. 

All God's works praife him ; and lhall man, the 
noblefl of his works on earth, be filent ? Surely his 
faints Jhall blefs his holy name. " Praife ye the 
Lord for it is good to fing praifes to our God \ 
for it is pleafant and praife is comely for the upright, 
Praife the Lord, O Jerufalem. Praife thy God, O 
Zion. Let us come before his prefence with thankf- 
giving and make a joyful noife to him with pfalms* 
For the Lord is a great God and a great King above 
all Gods. — O come, let us worfhip and bow down ; 
let us kneel before the Lord our maker; for he is 
our God and we are the people of his pafture. — His 
mercy is everlafting and his truth endureth to all 
generations." 

" All thy works praife thee, O Lord, and thy 
faints fhall blefs thee." 

These words, my brethren, which are a fuita- 
ble theme for our meditations to day, in their 
moft extenfive import, may be confidered as imply- 
ing the works of Creation, Providence and Re- 
demption, in each of which are involved truths fuf- 



8 THANKSGIVING SERMON. 

ficiently myfterious and fublime, to excite the admU 
ration of all created intelligences. From thefe iij- 
exhauftible fubje&s, new wonders will arife and in- 
creafe through interminable ages. 

In attending to this fubje£t we will make fome re- 
marks on each of thefe works of God which praife 
him — and on the obligations of the faints to blefs 
him. 

God's works of creation praife him, who in wif- 
dom Aiade them all. They declare the glory of the 
fupreme architect. By him were all things created 
that are in heaven and that are in earth, vifible 
and invifible. " He fpake and it was done ; he com- 
manded, and it flood faft ;" He faid let there be 
light and there was light. " He made heaven, the 
heaven of heavens with all their hoft ; the earth and 
all things that are therein. The Lord by wifdom 
hath founded the earth; by underftanding hath 
he eflablifhed the heavens ; by his knowledge the 
depths are broken up and the clouds drop down 
de\t. The heavens declare the glory of the Lord 
and the firmament fhoweth his handy work." Su- 
preme power, wifdom and goodnefs are every where 
difplayed. None but a being of infinite power 
could have made all things ant of nothing. None 
but a being of infinite wifdom could have planned 
the vaft machines — could have hung them in empty 
fpace and balanced worlds and fyftems ; and cauf- 
ed beauty, harmony and order to fliine in all. 

The works of Providence praife him. He pre- 
ferveth and upholdeth all things by the word of his 



THANKSGIVING SERMON. 9 

; power ; andtheycontinuetothis day according to his 
ordinances. His creative power is conftantly exer- 
cifed in the fupport of all worlds and creatures to 
which he hath given exiftence. He ruleth in the 
kingdoms of men and giveth the dominion to 
whomfoever he will. At what inftant he fpeaketh, 
he enlargeth and ftraiteneth, increafeth and deftroy- 
eth the nations. He changeth times and feafons. 
He fets up and puts down. He worketh all things 
after the counfel of his own will, and he giveth not 
account of any of his matters. His unremitting en* 
ergy upholds all beings and maintains a beautiful 
harmony in all his works — and fhould it ceafe but 
for a moment the wildeft diford'er would enfue. , His 
creatures, rational and irrational, depend entirely on 
him. The " young lions roar and afk their meat 
of God 55 ; and the eyes of all wait on him, that he 
may- give them their meat in due feafon. 

But if we look at all God's creatures throughout 
the earth, we find that man appears to be marked 
as the favorite of Providence. He who made has 
given all the endlefs varieties of the earth, and fea, to 
the children of men. That the earth may be fub- 
fervient to them and conduce to their comfort and 
happinefs, hevifits, waters and greatly enriches it 
with the river of God which is full of water ; he 
maketh it foft with Ihowers ; he bleffeth the fpring- 
ing thereof ; he crowneth the year with his good- 
nefs, and his paths drop fatnefs. All who are up- 
held by the energy and cheered by the munificence 

B 



io THANKSGIVING SERMON, 

of God ; and efpecially thofe who are comforted 
by the gracious and vital influence of his holy fpirit, 
are under the ftrongeft obligations to devote them- 
felves to him in holy and grateful obedience. 

In the natural, moral and political world the 
divine agency is, in a thoufand ways, difplayed. 

In the natural world, every attentive obferver is 
ftruck with wonder and aftonifhment, and acknowl- 
edges the operations of a divine hand. All nature 
difplays the perfections of nature's God. He main- 
tains the beauty and harmony which are fo vifible in 
all his works. The luminaries of heaven praife him, 
who in wifdom directs their revolutions and periods, 
w r ho hath "• fet a tabernacle for the fun w r hofe go- 
ing forth is from the end of heaven and from whofe 
heat nothing is hidden." Hefcattereth his diffufive 
rays through the fyflem and cheers with light the in- 
habitants of various worlds. From this fource the 
earth derives her lights her heat and her prolific vir- 
tue. Every tree, plant and flower feels his genial 
influence. By his attractive power, the waters are 
exhaled, which under divine dire&ion are balanced 
in the air and poured in copious fnowers on the 
thirfty ground. 

" Sing unto the Lord with thankfgiving who 
covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain 
for the earth, w T ho maketh grafs to grow upon the 
mountains — who giveth to the bead his food and to 
the young ravens which cry." Pfalm cxlvii. 7. 



THANKSGIVING SERMON. n 

The revolving feafons witnefs ; fummer and win- 
ter, feed time and harveft own, as they roll in fuccef- 
fion, his care and wifdom. The day is his, the 
night alfo is his — he hath prepared the light and the 
fun — he hath fet the borders of the earth ; he hath 
made fummer and winter ; and while the earth re- 
maineth, they fhall not ceafe becaufe he hath faid it. 
He hath created and employs inftruments to anfwer 
his defigns ; winds and feas, funihine and rain are 
ordered to produce thofe effefts which fhall be mod 
for his glory and the good of his rational offspring. 
No ray of light- — no particle of air or dew-drop of 
the night moves but by his a£live will — and in what 
place or at what time foever he exerts this energy, 
he does it in the mod wife manner, and to effeft the 
beft moral purpofes in the hearts of his rational crea- 
tures, who are thereby affe&ed and in whofe afflic- 
tion or advantage they are primarily defigned to iffue. 
When the atmofphere preferves a fuitable tempera- 
ture and the earth is happily watered from the river 
of God and the year is crowned with his goodnefs — 
when noxious vapors are diffipated — -when thunder 
and lightning, fnow and hail and ftormy winds, which 
fulfil his word, are made to fubferve the health and 
profperity of his people ; — and, when he blafts the 
malevolent defigns of his enemies, however men im- 
prove thefe things, either as mercies or judgments, 
the counfel of the Lord (hall ftand,and he will, in 
a variety of ways, bring about his wife purpofes and 
advance his own glory. 

In the moral world, the agency of God is em- 



i2 THANKSGIVING SERMON. 



ployed with refpeft to his intelligent creatures, who 
are under the ftrongeft moral obligations. Of this 
the fcriptures afford the higheit proof. It is likewhe 
proved by the perfections of God. He is felf-exift- 
ent, all-fufficient, independent, omnipotent, infinite- 
ly wife and holy, juft and good. The moral per. 
ie&ions, the juftice, goodnefs and truth of God, 
are illuftrated in adjufting the difpenfations of his 
providence, not only to the circiunftances and con- 
ditions of men, but to the real advantage of his 
Church. 

In the political world the works of God praife 
him. He orders the birth, the rife and decline of 
empires with all the circumftances of their elevation, 
and their deftruction. Through what aftonifhing 
fcenes, changes and revolutions have moft of the 
nations and kingdoms of men paffed, becaufe God 
puts down and builds up as he pleafes. At what in- 
ftant he fpeaketh concerning a nation to plant and to 
build it, or to pull down and deftroy it, it is done. 
Where are now the Perfian, the AfTyrian, the Medi- 
an and Babylonian kingdoms which made fuch a fig- 
ure in the eaft ? How have they been brought down 
and deflroyed, fo that not one ftone is left upon 
another ! What has become of the once flourifhing 
empire of Greece which rode in triumph and made 
the nations tributary ? What furprifing revolutions 
did the Roman empire undergo, notwithftanding 
her long and unexampled profperity ! When her vir- 
tue became only a name and her luxury and diffipa- 
iion realities, fhe fell - and all her glory was proftrated 



THANKSGIVING SERMON. 13 



in the duft ! Are we not to look beyond all feconda- 
ry caufes and to afcribe fuch important changes to 
kim, by whom kb u and princes decree juf- 

tice, who will punifh the nations that rebel againft 
him, with a rod of iron and dafh them in pieces like 
a potter's veffel ? 

The magnificent empires of the world, ingeneral, 
have, after a fhort period, reached the meridian point 
of their glory, and then declined and fell. Of ma- 
ny of them there is hardly a veftige to be found. 

Among the moderns, how have the nations of 
Europe revolutionized and in what torrents of blood, 
for feveral years paft, have her pleafantefl fields been 
deluged. With regard to our own nation, fhe has 
undergone great and furprifing changes j but all have 
tended to accelerate her rifmg glory. Our begin- 
ning was fmall, and God defended us in our infant* 
ile ftate from numerous favage foes ! When the na- 
tion from which we fprang, envious at our growing 
profperity, fought to bring us under a more galling 
yoke of bondage, their counfels were turned into 
foolifhnefs and their haughty looks were brought 
down. God raifed a Wafhington to lead our ar- 
mies on to viftory and triumph. When Independ- 
ence was gained, it became necefTary to fecure it by 
the adoption of a conftitution of federal government. 
The remarkable unanimity in its adoption — the gen- 
eral agreement refpe&ing its fuperior excellency, and 
thehappinefs of the people in having two of the 
bell characters in fucceffion at the helm of govern- 
ment, manifeft a kind fuperintending providence. 



i 4 THANKSGIVING SERMON. 

So numerous have been the interpofitions of heav- 
en in our behalf, and fo plainly are his footfteps to 
be feen, that, however pleafing the talk, it would 
be almoft endlefs to recount them. I have only 
hinted at fome of the moil remarkable, and lhall 
leave the reft to be fupplied by your own reflexions, 

I proceed to obferve that Redemption is the 
mod glorious of all God's w r orks, and that in which 
we are mod deeply interefted. This is indeed a 
boundlefs theme and can never be exhausted. Of 
ail the works of God, this praifes him the moft. 
And when all the works of creation are diffolved, 
the effect of this will continue, and be a theme of 
praife to eternal ages. Worthy is the Lamb that was 
Jlain to receive blejjing and honor and glory and power ', 
for thou waft jlain and haft redeemed us unto God, by 
thy blood, will be the fong of faints in everlafting 
glory. 

The faints are under the ftrongeft obligations to 
blefs God, not only for the works which he hath 
wrought but for the glorious perfe&ions of his na- 
ture. If the works of nature, providence and grace, 
praife the Lord, furely man fliould not be filent, for 
whom they were wrought and who is moft deeply 
interefted J Created with fuch noble powers of foul 
as are capable of enlargement — formed for exalted 
happinefs in the enjoyment of God, it is not only 
the duty of man, but a duty than which nothing bet- 
ter becomes him, to make it his greateft care to em- 
ploy the nobleft faculties of his nature in the beft 



THANKSGIVING SERMON. 15 



work, and look up to God the fountain of perfec- 
tion. What is there that can better employ the 
thoughts of rational creatures, and the moft ferious 
contemplations of pious men, than the fublime and 
glorious attributes of the infinite author of all good ? 
A faint may improve his genius in expatiating the 
fields of literature ; he may ftudy the works of na- 
ture ; but ftill more noble objects ought to engage 
his chief attention, and through thefe he fhouid look 
up to the great firft caufe. He Ihould " elevate his 
heart above the low region of terreftrial things to the 
bright abode of the immortal God." 

All rational beings are bound to blefs the Lord, 
as they are partakers of his bounty, receive from 
him innumerable benefits and are objefts of his par- 
ticular care : But faints above all are obje&s of his 
fpecial notice and partakers of his richeft grace. The 
former may poffefs the exterior of devotion and pro- 
fefs to be grateful, but the latter only are fincere in 
their afcriptions of praife ; they only truly admire 
the divine goodnefs, and feel the riches of his love 
in the great work of redeeming grace ; and have al- 
ready begun that new fong of praife which fhall con- 
tinue through the endlefs ages of eternity. 

We fhouid doubtlefs be grateful to God both for 
temporal and fpiritual mercies, and not forget any of 
his benefits. 

Some of thofe which we are bound particularly 
to recognize on this Anniverfary let us endeavor to 
recount. 



THANKSGIVING SERMON. 



The fmiles of heaven on our American land have 
impofed on all our citizens, the ftrongeft obligations 
to this important and pleafing duty. Not to men- 
tion the countlefs favors and interpofitions of kind 
providence to our fathers j the land in which we live 
is now a cultivated, pleafant, fruitful country and 
the garden of the world. 

Our country is happy as to its climates; the 
agreeable temperature of its atmofphere ; the health 
to which it conduces and the plenty which it every 
where pours forth to reward the hand of induftry*. 
Here fcience has diffufed her cheering beams. — Our 
citizens are making continual improvement in the 
ufeful and fine arts, and liberty and independence 
crown all our enjoyments. We fit under the hal- 
lowed fhrine of religion's glorious temple, where the 
glad tidings of theblefled gofpel are conflantly heard, 
and are indulged with the ineftimable privilege of 
worfhipping God according to thedi&ates of our own 
confciences, the rules of his infpired word, and the 
emotions of his holy fpirit. While thoufands in 
different parts of the world ftupidly proftrate them- 
felves before fenfelefs idols, while they groan under 
the hard hand of religious tyranny and are worn out 
with abftinences and pilgrimages, we glory in a reli- 
gion which is mild and merciful as its divine author ; 
and worfhip the Lord who made heaven and earth, 
and who requires no other facrifices but thofe of de- 
vout and pious hearts. 

No nation fince the days of miracles and infpi- 



THANKSGIVING SERMON. i$ 

ration could ever trace more clearly the veftiges of 
providence in their favor than we can trace them, 
in ours. The nation of the Jews were a living 
monument of God's goodnefs. He reared and 
made them a great people, that his declarative glory 
might be difplayed among the heathen. We too 
have large experience of his heavenly interpofition, 
and are in point of privilege, diftinguifhed from all 
the other nations of the earth. They could trace 
the hiflory of Providence from the calling of Abra- 
ham from the plains of Mefopotamia and Ur of the 
Chaldees to their happy eftablifhment in the promi- 
fed land of Canaan. We can tell of the adventu- 
rous flight of our pious fathers from their native 
country, acrofs the flood of the Atlantic to a land 
that they knew not, and recognize a feries of happy 
providences, which have attended their fons, down 
to the termination of our revolutionary war, the ef- 
tablifhment of our federal government, and the pros- 
perous courfe of our national affairs to the prefent 
day. While they applaud their Jofhua and recount 
his immortal deeds ; we can fpeak of our beloved 
Wafhington, of the aftonifhing wifdom and fortU 
tude with which he commanded in the field, fuftain- 
ing the trying viciflitudes of dubious war. Prompt- 
ed by the mofl difmterefled love for his injured 
country, this friend of liberty, virtue and mankind, 
quitted his favorite retirement and the endeared fcenes 
of domeflic life, and graced the firfl feat in our pub- 
lic councils. In the alarming incidents of war, when 
his foul trembled for the fate of his country, addref- 



i-8 THANKSGIVING SERMON. 

fing the Moft High, he was often heard to fay, thy: 
will be done. Uumoyed by the belt gift — the 
higheft praifes and moft affectionate gratitude of his 
fellow-citizens, he mo deftly received the fincere ex- 
preffions of their cordial wifhes, reminding them of 
the great Author of their bleffings and his fucceffes. 
" I was but the humble agent of favoring heaven to 
whom alone the praife of victory is due." That 
fuch were the fentiments of his heart the whole of his 
life declared ; and they compofe a brighter gem in 
his crown than all the conquefts he has won. 

Here is a character which no preceding age can 
)boaft. Its intrinfic luftre fpreads a dark cloud over 
the moft diftinguifhed, uninfpired perfonages, ancient 
and modern, and has fecured to itfelf a death^efs 
fame. While we pay a tribute of refpeft, juftly due 
to the friend, the father and deliverer of his country, 
let us imitate his pious example in afcribing all the 
glory to Almighty God. If we are ungrateful to 
him we deferve to have our names blotted out from 
under heaven. 

Let us recognize his goodnefs, in all our victo- 
ries, in the civil privileges we enjoy — in the excel- 
lent conftitution of our government — in giving one 
to fucceed our beloved Waftiington in the Prefiden- 
cy who is a tried patriot — the friend of his country, 
and whofe reputation for wifdom and integrity, the 
pen of impurity and malice has not been able to blaft. 
Let us praife God., that he has made us happy at 
home, refpe£ted abroad and comforted our hearts 
with all fpiritual bleffings through our Lord Jesus 



THANKSGIVING SERMON. i 9 



Recollect, my brethren, your private and per- 
fonal favors as fo many inducements to blefs the 
Lord. Some of you have been profpered through 
the whole courfe of the year—your ground has 
brought forth abundantly ; the Lord hath made a 
hedge about you and your houfes, and given you 
uninterrupted health, profperity, and the pleafures 
pf friendfhip and love. Others among you have re- 
covered from threatning difeafe. When you found 
your fpirits finking j when you trembled on the 
verge of the grave ; when the folemn bufmefs of 
taking a long farewell of all your dear copne£lions 
here had overwhelmed your troubled minds, heaven, 
interpofed, healed your difordered frames, and reftor- 
ed you to the bofom of your friends whofe aching 
hearts had given up all hopes of your recovery. 
Others can recognize fpiritual bleffings. God has 
taught you the folly of fin and infpired you with the 
love of holinefs. When you trembled under a fenfe 
of the horrible guilt of your hearts and the dreadful 
confequences of this (late of oppofition to God, in 
the fweet whifpers of his love he faid to your fouls, 
" Thy fins be forgiven thee." In the gloomy hours 
of defertion light has fprung up, and you have been 
led to the willing arms of the Almighty Redeemer, 
who has filled you with the unfpeakable joy and peace 
of believers ; and given you the kindeft affurances 
that he will receive you to himfelf, where all fin and 
forrow (hall ceafe, and tears fhall be wiped forever 
from your eyes ! 

Can you retire from the fan&uary of praife to the 
focial repaft, where you expeft to meet your friends^ 



2o THANKSGIVING SERMON. 



without hearts beating high with thankfulnefs to 
your Almighty. Benefactor, without fending, por- 
tions to the poor and needy, that they alio may par- 
ticipate in the general joy ; and, without fympathiz- 
ing with the affli&ed, who have the empty feat of a 
hufbaad, wife, child, or friend to lament ? 

You who are heads of families relate to youroff- 
fpring the kind interpofition of providence to our 
forefathers and us down to the revolution— and from 
thence to the prefent time. Imprefs their tender 
minds with a fenfe of their dependence upon God, 
the author of all thefe blefiings ; and urge them to 
remember their Creator in the days of their youth. 

Thanksgiving is a religious feftival ; and you 
who are parents might make a lafting impreffion on 
the minds of your children by a religious obfervance 
of it. Thofe who are now children are to be the fu- 
ture legiflators, flatefmen and minifters of our coun- 
try ; and the good education they receive in the 
morning of their days, will influence them through 
life, and render them blefiings in their day. 

Let us implore the forgivenefs of our national 
and private tranfgreflions ; befeech the Almighty to 
fmile on the United States of America ; to diffufe 
knowledge and political and religious liberty, free from 
licentioufnefs, to all mankind ; and manifeft the grati- 
tude of our hearts, by lives conformed to the revealed 
will of God, and holy anticipations of the bleflednefs, 
prepared for his children, in the world of eternal praife. 
LRBAg'19 Blessed be the Lord God of Ifrael, from everlaji- 
ing to everlajiing ; and let all the people fay. Amen* 






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